Garlic Chicken Zucchini Noodles (Printable)
Tender chicken and zucchini noodles cooked with garlic in a flavorful stir fry, ideal for a healthy meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
02 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
03 - 1/2 tsp salt
04 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Vegetables
05 - 4 medium zucchini, spiralized into noodles
06 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 2 cups snap peas, trimmed
08 - 2 green onions, sliced
→ Sauce
09 - 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
10 - 2 tbsp oyster sauce
11 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
12 - 1 tbsp honey
13 - 2 tsp sesame oil
14 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
15 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
16 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Garnish
17 - 1 tbsp sesame seeds
18 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
# Directions:
01 - Toss the sliced chicken breast with cornstarch, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until evenly coated.
02 - Whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Set aside.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and stir fry for 4–5 minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
04 - In the same pan, add bell pepper and snap peas. Stir fry for 2–3 minutes until just tender.
05 - Add zucchini noodles and green onions to the pan. Stir fry for 2 minutes until zucchini is just softened, being careful not to overcook.
06 - Return the chicken to the pan. Pour in the sauce and toss everything together for 1–2 minutes until heated through and well coated.
07 - Remove from heat. Garnish with sesame seeds and fresh herbs. Serve immediately.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pan in under 15 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when takeout sounds tempting but you want something nourishing
- The cornstarch coated chicken stays impossibly tender, a trick I learned after years of rubbery stir fry attempts
- You can load up your plate without the post meal heavy feeling that traditional pasta brings
02 -
- Overcooking zucchini noodles turns them into watery mush, so once they hit that just softened stage, move on immediately
- Cornstarch needs direct contact with the chicken to work properly, so dont skip that hands on tossing step
03 -
- Have all ingredients prepped before you turn on the stove, because stir frying happens fast and you wont have time to chop mid cook
- If the sauce seems too thick, add a tablespoon of water to thin it out and help it coat the vegetables evenly